szólj hozzá: Brazília-Argentína 3-4
Lets put this in the friendliest of terms, there is no amistoso when it comes to these two countries, on the pitch. At the MetLife Stadium, 80,000 + fans many of them who had lubed up with plenty of beer and bbq in the hundreds of tailgating parties dotting the parking lots were treated to a brilliant exposition of attacking football. The match billed as the two titans of S.American football lived up to expectation.
A slow start, a thunderous middle, and an absolutely scintillating end provided by Messi as Argentina overcame Brazil.
What is impressive about Messi is his patience. He did not impose himself on the game and there seems to be an increasing confidence in his team mates to provide him with the opportunities to score. Gonzalo Higuain set him up with a pass that split the defense open sending Messi haring down to finish past Rafael. Then it was Angel Di Maria doing the same as Higuain cleverly unsighted the Brazilians with his body and once again it was Messi bursting his way through and finishing with his left foot.
We have seen this legendary acceleration, to see it live, inspires awe. That third goal was Messi envisioning the whole thing in his mind from start to finish. Collecting the ball on the left sideline at the half, shrugging off Marcelo contemptuously, to arrow down for the next 25 yards and before the Brazilians had gathered their wits sending a perfectly placed curling shot to the right of Rafael. There were far fewer neutrals when the match ended as chants of M-essi, M-essi, M-essi broke out through all parts of the stadium. Even the Brazilians and believe you me they were the dominant force interspersed with a sparser and mostly quieter powder blue and white, paid homage to the little maestro.
The Seleccao were no slouches as Romulo, Oscar, and Hulk gave the Brazilians the scoring lift they needed but the Albiceleste had all the answers. Messi scored a hat trick including the match winner but the only non-Messi goal for the Argentinians came from Federico Fernandez scoring from a Sergio Aguero corner making the difference.
The goalkeeping on both sides left a lot to be desired. Sergio Romero should have done better with Romulo’s shot which trickled past him into goal and then he failed to collect Neymar’s corner cleanly and Hulk picked his pocket. At the other end Rafael needlessly charged out to try and force Messi off course and his over commitment was punished. Both teams have to tighten up that department considerably.
In the clash of Messi vs Neymar there seems to be a interesting dynamic unfolding. The Brazilian is fast becoming the set up man for his team while Messi in the last few matches has benefited from others providing him his pickings. Neymar was provided a similar opportunity to burst through but he dallied his shot till the last and the Argentinian defense was able to scramble him off the ball. He’s a goalscorer so it is worrying sign under Mano Menezes he’s becoming more involved in midfield machinations which should be taken over by Oscar, Lucas Moura, or Kaka.